The Shadowboxer by Noel; Behn

the same camp on the same numerical day as his first recorded escape in February.
    â€œSpangler now tests numerical dates against location. His next escape occurs on June seventeenth, the same-number day as his second recorded escape assist in February at Flossenburg, but instead of going to Flossenburg he picks Bergen-Belsen. Once again he does not murder.
    â€œNumbers appear to have a more controlling effect than geography. Even so, the Chronology shows that Spangler reaches a far more drastic conclusion at this point: stay away from concentration camps altogether and the impulse to kill will stop, the beast will be neutralized. That such an attempt was made can be seen in the period immediately subsequent to the June-seventeenth escape—Spangler was inactive for over four months. This too is a common syndrome among first murderers. They move to different cities or countries, often change names or occupations, sometimes even religions, to appease their phobia.
    â€œUp to this point Spangler was hardly the pathological assassin he considered himself to be. He was simply a man who had killed another man accidentally and was exaggerating the event. All things being equal, Spangler would never have killed again. But an incident now occurs which is the turning point in his mental and emotional processes (it is always the second murder that shapes the assassin, never the first): Spangler gets word that the Gestapo has captured an intimate friend and underground associate, the man Tramont. Spangler fights all temptation, but finally breaks his resolve. He penetrates the Gestapo prison and manages to get into Tramont’s cell. He finds that Tramont has been beaten too badly to escape, that he is in great agony and close to death. It is quite likely that Tramont pleads with Spangler to put him out of his misery. Spangler kills him—”
    â€œPreposterous!” Platt shouted, again jumping to his feet. “Spangler murdered Tramont to silence him.”
    â€œThen you admit it was Spangler who killed him, and not the Rag Man?” Webber demanded.
    â€œI admit nothing, but I will not allow this charlatan to say it was a mercy killing. Tramont could identify him—the Rag Man. All we needed was a day or two more. That’s why Tramont was murdered.”
    â€œIf the slaying had been premeditated, Standartenfuehrer,” Tebet offered cautiously, “wouldn’t a weapon have been brought and employed? A knife? A wire? A rope? Why would Spangler use his hands if he had planned—”
    â€œWe don’t know it was Spangler,” Platt erupted, as he spun toward von Schleiben. “Obergruppenfuehrer, I protest this Jew’s wild, unsubstantiated claims!”
    â€œSit down,” von Schleiben warned.
    â€œBut—”
    â€œIf you persist in playing the dunce, you will be treated like the dunce. One more outburst and you will be sent to the corner. Now sit down.”
    â€œCertainly, Obergruppenfuehrer.”
    â€œLet the prisoner continue—without interruption,” the General commanded.
    Tebet tugged at his collar button. “Tramont—Tramont is murdered, and the next night Ben … Menk … Obergruppenfuehrer, is it possible that I might have a dossier to refresh my memory?”
    â€œGet him a dossier.”
    Webber looked to his aides, who shook their heads. “All copies are classified and assigned, Obergruppenfuehrer. There are no extras.”
    â€œPlatt,” called von Schleiben, “give him yours.”
    â€œMine, Obergruppenfuehrer?”
    â€œYours.”
    Platt’s dossier was passed up to the pulpit-balcony. Tebet leafed to the Chronology of Events. His finger trailed down the desired page. “The next night Spangler waits in the office of Benke, the Gestapo officer who was Tramont’s main interrogator. Benke is murdered and then savagely beaten. This is Spangler’s first premeditated slaying; also the first